10 Things to Do in Edmonton in a Day

What is Edmonton Most Famous For?

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Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, is big on Canadian history. The city traces its roots back to the North American fur trade and the early days of the Canadian Pacific Railway. You can enjoy a hands-on experience with the city’s colourful past at the unique living history museum of Fort Edmonton Park or by taking a walk around some of the older districts.

For Edmonton’s more contemporary highlights, you don’t need to look further than downtown and around the southern bank of the North Saskatchewan River. Great things to do in Edmonton in a day include watching a Canadian Football League match or exploring the largest mall in all of North America. Here’s a rundown of some of the must-dos in the city.

1

Start the day at Churchill Square

The main city square of Edmonton

You can enjoy leisurely walks through Edmonton’s main city square, named in honour of the famous British Prime Minister. Sir Winston Churchill Square usually plays host to the city’s big, multiday festivals, including the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival that takes place around July. On any other day, it’s a great starting point for downtown sightseeing, with memorials, statues and clocks to see, and with significant buildings such as the Edmonton City Hall and Art Gallery of Alberta nearby.

See living history at Fort Edmonton Park

Get your picture taken in period clothes

You and your family can enjoy a fun blast into the past at Ford Edmonton Park. It presents historical recreations that hark back to the city’s history, spanning the North American fur trade, Alberta’s oil boom, and the history of the Canadian Pacific Railway. You can watch live demos at the 1846 Hudson’s Bay Company Fort, relive a settler’s journey on a horse-pulled wagon, dress up in period clothing, or ride on a steam train. Tickets are around $27.50 for adults and $22 for kids aged under 17.

Location: 7000 143 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 2R7, Canada

Open: Monday–Thursday from 10am to 5pm, Sundays from 11am to 2pm (closed on Fridays and Saturdays)

Shop at West Edmonton Mall

North America’s largest mall

You’d usually need more than just a day or some revisits to experience this mall’s full range of offerings. West Edmonton Mall is the largest mall in North America, with over 800 stores, 9 attractions, 2 hotels, and over 100 eateries within. You can find a vast collection of notable brand and designer fashion stores that range from Tiffany & Co. to Michael Kors. But unlike most malls, it’s an appealing go-to for sightseeing, with great animal attractions such as the Marine Life aquarium and the Sea Lions’ Rock inside.

Location: 8882 170 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5T 4J2, Canada

Open: Monday–Saturday from 10am to 9pm, Sundays from 11am to 6pm

Phone: +1 780-444-5321

Good for:

Families

Shoppers

4

Explore Strathcona Historic District

It’s home to the 1908 railway station

This historical district makes up one of Alberta’s designated Provincial Historic Areas. Old Strathcona has a good collection of the city’s heritage buildings, most of which line the central Whyte Avenue, which is officially referred to as 82 Avenue. You can also find Edmonton's classical theatres in the area, together with shops and dining spots that bear the iconic stylings of the Roaring ‘20s. Be sure to check out nearby heritage sites such as the Strathcona Hotel, the Canadian Pacific Railway Station, and the Princess Theatre.

Walk through the great glass pyramids at Muttart Conservatory

Explore treasures of the great outdoors, indoors

Edmonton’s Muttart Conservatory has prominent glass pyramids as its centrepiece. These also make up one of the city’s skyline features over the North Saskatchewan River valley. The pyramid greenhouses shelter the conservatory’s four climate-controlled biomes, each of which feature hundreds of different plant species. You can explore each through the interconnected atriums. The unique greenhouse designs make it possible for each biome to be flooded with natural light. This gives the unique sensation of exploring nature in the great outdoors while you’re indoors. Tickets are around $12.50.

Location: 9626 96a St NW, Edmonton, AB T6C 4L8, Canada

Open: Daily from 10am to 5pm (Wednesdays and Thursdays until 9pm)

Phone: +1 780-496-8755

Good for:

Families

Photo

6

Try the key lime tart at Duchess Bake Shop

A popular spot for classic French pastries and coffee

It isn’t hard to find a spot around downtown Edmonton for pleasing your sweet tooth. Edmonton’s great collection of pastries and bakeries include longstanding legends and a few newcomers. Duchess Bake Shop is a prominent spot where you can select from a full display of classic French pastries. There are Florentines, croissants or éclairs to go with your coffee, and their key lime and butter tarts are very popular. You can bring home some recipes by picking up their cookbook, too.

Location: 10718 124 St, Edmonton, AB T5M 0H1, Canada

Open: Tuesday–Friday from 9am to 7pm, Saturdays from 10am to 6pm, Sundays from 10am to 5pm (closed on Mondays)

Watch a CFL match at Commonwealth Stadium

The home field of the Edmonton Eskimos

Commonwealth Stadium is Canada’s largest open-air stadium, fondly nicknamed The Brick Field. Besides being the home field of Edmonton’s own Canadian football team, the Eskimos, the stadium also regularly plays host to the Grey Cup playoffs, various soccer tournaments, as well as rock concerts. Past headline bands have included Bon Jovi and Pink Floyd. Home games are usually held from July to November, when the Eskimos play against other CFL teams like the Calgary Stampeders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

See the woolly mammoth at Royal Alberta Museum

Learn about Alberta’s natural and cultural history

You can find a trove of Alberta’s natural and cultural treasures inside Royal Alberta Museum in downtown Edmonton. Among the intriguing exhibits is a collection of First Nations cultural treasures, including beaded sealskin snowshoes and hunting tools. There are also life-size ice age skeletons and replicas of mastodons and sabre-toothed cats. If you’re visiting as a family with kids, there’s a dedicated gallery where they can engage in free play and actively build stuff through hands-on exhibits. Tickets are around $19 for adults and $10 for kids under 17 years.

Location: 9810 103a Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 0G2, Canada

Open: Daily from 10am to 5pm (Thursdays until 8pm)

Phone: +1 825-468-6000

Good for:

Families

History

9

Tour the Alberta Legislature Building

Enjoy a walk through the beautiful gardens

The Alberta Legislature Building is among Edmonton’s most instagrammable spots and is one of Alberta province’s most important landmarks. The building dates back to 1912 and features Beaux-Arts architectural styling. It’s the meeting place for the Legislative Assembly and is fondly nicknamed ‘The Ledge’. The team of Heritage Interpreters here are ready to guide you on a free tour through the building, on which you can learn about Alberta's legislative history and process for a little under an hour. You can also enjoy pleasant walks through around the lovely flower gardens in the surrounding grounds.

Location: 10800 97 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6, Canada

Open: Daily from 10am to 5pm

Phone: +1 780-427-7362

Good for:

History

Photo

10

End the day watching a play at Capitol Theatre

Enjoy shows and movies in a classical setting

Fort Edmonton’s Capitol Theatre is the result of restoration efforts on the city’s original 1929 Capitol Theatre on Jasper Avenue, which was demolished in the early ‘70s. The new theatre offers much of the classical charms of the old one by keeping the historical styling and features of the original, including old-fashioned ticket booths. Live performances range from magic shows to dramas and comedic plays. Free movie screenings include 4D short films such as Northern Light, which tells of Edmonton’s history from the ice age to the present.